SERVICES for people with learning disabilities in Tamworth are set to be improved thanks to a £2.7 million cash injection.

The funding will be used to create a new centre in Tamworth that will provide good quality, locally accessible respite services.

Under previous plans, people from the Tamworth area would have had to drive up to an hour to the nearest facility.

Josie Horton and Angela Blood are both parents of young men with learning disabilities who use respite services. They said: "We are delighted that high quality respite care is being brought back to Tamworth and Lichfield.

"Both of our sons attend respite and we need to know that they are well cared for, in nice surroundings, and it's important that they enjoy their break."

Staffordshire County Council has collaborated with the South Staffordshire PCT and the South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to negotiate the funding for its overall respite project, which will also see services developed in Cannock and East Staffordshire.

County Councillor Matthew Ellis, cabinet member for adults and wellbeing, has been involved with the negotiations.

He recently met carers who were concerned by the lack of respite provision and he agreed that change was needed.

"Carers are often on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week," he said. "Respite can reduce the stress of caring and helps carers to look after their own health and wellbeing.

"It also gives the person they care for a break from their usual routine. We're spending more money on respite now because it's the right thing to do for the long term."

The South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provide learning disability services in the south of the county.

Chief Executive Neil Carr said: "Our goal is to provide local and wider communities with the best possible services."

Work will now take place to find a location and premises that provides the appropriate quality service required.